Sun, beach, sea: the national soccer players will hardly be able to escape a certain holiday feeling in the Greek late summer. But the size of the sporting task requires Jürgen Klopp and his predominantly young, inexperienced staff to once again focus completely on Sunday (8.45 p.m./RTL) at the end of the power program with four Nations League games in ten days.
Second squad, second win? That must be the goal after the liberating and inspiring 2-0 win against Serbia with the quick chance for revenge in the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. Klopp was cautiously optimistic. “Everyone knows that: If you have won a game, you are more confident of winning the next one than if you have lost one. The human brain thinks like that,” said the national coach.
At the final training session in Herzogenaurach, which was already cool in autumn, all 23 available players were on the pitch. Klopp, wrapped up warm in a jacket, gave a short speech on the pitch. The order is to refill. “I don’t want to declare or promise consistency yet. But we will try again on Sunday,” he said about the goal of a second win.
Table pressure: “We have to get the wins”
This would suddenly increase the chances of reaching the quarter-finals in Group 2, in which the DFB team is only in third place at half-time with four points behind Greece (7) and the Netherlands (5). Conversely, another defeat against the league leaders, who have to cope with the loss of the injured top striker Christos Tzolis from Arsenal FC, would be fatal.
First place would then be gone before the final two November games. “We have to get the victories,” warned Bayern young star Tom Bischof. The 21-year-old is really keen to take part in the test in the stadium of the top Greek club PAOK Saloniki, which has a capacity of around 28,000 spectators: “I’ve heard it’s a great stadium. It's going to be gross. Good fans. We can step on the gas there.”
A week ago in Augsburg, the players from squad two around Bishop were eyewitnesses as spectators in the stands of Greece's first victory against four-time world champions Germany. “It definitely won’t be any easier than the first leg. We have to play a very good game again in order to leave the pitch with another win,” said Florian Wirtz. The 23-year-old will most likely lead the DFB team as captain for the first time following the early departure of Bayern professional Serge Gnabry.
“How do we deal with the victory?” Klopp expects an answer to this key question from his players. The question that arises before kick-off is: How much will the national coach change his winning team against Serbia?
Gate
Three different goalkeepers were used in the first three games: Marc-André ter Stegen in the 1-1 draw in Holland, Alexander Nübel in the 0-1 draw in the first duel with the Greeks and Jonas Urbig in his debut win in Munich. The training impressions pointed to Augsburg's Finn Dahmen's first international match. Noah Atubolu from Frankfurt could also make his debut.
Defense
Klopp also mixed up the back four a lot in his first games. The Leipzig full-back duo Ridle Baku and David Raum could join the defense line, as could Stuttgart international newcomer Finn Jeltsch in the center alongside the experienced Dortmund player Waldemar Anton.
Midfield
Bischof, Pavlovic, Wirtz - the young, energetic trio was the heart of Klopp's first win against the Serbs. A repeat is necessary in order to end the first international match phase with the new national coach on a positive note. “The three of us got along well,” said Bischof, promoting a new edition.
Offensive
Klopp will definitely have to make a change. For Gnabry, Bayern colleague Lennart Karl could start on the right wing. Derry Scherhant from Freiburg recommended himself for a second appearance against the Serbs with his speed and offensive drive. In the center of the attack, Nick Woltemade was well integrated into the interaction with the midfield players around Wirtz, even without a goal. The alternative would be Jonathan Burkardt from Frankfurt.
